wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

A different take on state funding for public broadcasting from a friend in Japan (bolding our own):

The right wing in America does not like public broadcasting because they think you are too liberal?

That's interesting! Because it's opposite to Japanese situation! In Japan, I believe the public broadcarting - NHK - is considered rather conservative and other commercial TV stations are considered generally liberal.

The NHK doesn't get any funds from the government but it have to receive Diet approval annually. They recently have had a problem, some producers showed a certain touchy program previously to some representatives and slashed it by following their advice. (The representatives dinied the fact though....)

Its funds depend on people's fees for television viewers. Almost all Japanese families pay the fees. it's kind of obligations for every family which has TV.

These days, there's been an anti-NHK movement in Japan. Many people reject to pay the fee.

As I saw it, in America, there are a lot of TV or radio stations which are rather or too conservative, right? But we don't have any conservative commercial stations in Japan! Big differences between us!

Anyway, I think American peple do need public broadcasting like WNYC to know the truth. And of course, like me, other country's people do need your station, too! Also I think your station is not too liberal. Like you said, it's balanced.

I'll listen to you tonight!

Oh I have to get ready for dinner.
Have a great day, Brian!

more: 223,000 homes stop paying fees to NHK; many cite neighbors' refusal [the Japan Times]